A DUI And Your Driver's License

Since you have been charged with "driving" under the influence it should come as no surprise that your driving privileges will be affected by your DUI. When you were arrested your driver's license was taken by the officer and you should have been given a document that states this pink (or yellow, or blue) piece of paper is your license. This document, or possibly another document from your arrest, will also mention how long you have to file for a DMV administrative hearing before your driver's license is suspended or revoked due to your DUI. This window of opportunity is often very short, for example in Kansas it is only 10 days. If you fail to file for an administrative hearing your driver's license will be suspended or revoke per your states DUI laws. For example in Kansas on a first time DUI offense your driver's license will be suspended for 30 days, and restricted for 330. A second time DUI offender will have their license suspended for 1 year, and restricted, with an ignition interlock, for 2 years.

Be aware that this administrative hearing is completely separate from your other DUI court proceedings. Just because you may with the DMV hearing doesn't mean you will be able to avoid a DUI conviction, and the opposite is true as well.

Now since your physical driver's license was kept at your DUI arrest, you no longer have a photo id. This can pose its own difficulties in daily life. Since it may be several weeks to several months before you know what will happen to your driver's license, you should consider getting a regular photo id. You can obtain a regular photo id from your local DMV or licensing office for about $20.

Should you happen to have Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and get a DUI you will typically lose your CDL for at least a year.  Also a record of a driver's license suspension could keep you from obtaining a CDL in the first place.

If you have a question about the status of your license call your state's DMV or Department of Motor Vehicle Control.